Born in Whitby, he worked on the construction of the Old and Humber Docks in Hull, as well as many drainage and canal projects.

Two years later, he joined the Merchant Navy, and was able to enrol in the Guild of Master Mariners in 1769.

Next he set up as a merchant and coal fitter, and with his brother, took out a lease on collieries at St. Anthony's and Wallsend in 1778.

Despite initial success, the project ran into financial difficulties, and both men were declared bankrupt in 1782.

Although he lived in Ireland, near York and at Morton in County Durham at various times, he maintained an office and a house in Newcastle.

His large library, which ran to 535 volumes, was auctioned the following year, but his widow Elizabeth donated his printed reports to the Institution of Civil Engineers in 1837.

[5] This method had been applied to the design of Finlay Bridge at Naas,[8] employing an arch barrel based on a circular segment that is smaller than a semicircle.